VI. THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS.
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King Herod._ Potz-tausend! Himmel-sacrament!Filled am I with great wondermentAt this unwelcome news!Am I not Herod? Who shall dareMy crown to take, my sceptre bear,As king among the Jews? (_Here he shall stride up and down and flourish his sword._) What ho! I fain would drink a canOf the strong wine of Canaan!The wine of Helbon bring,I purchased at the Fair of Tyre,As red as blood, as hot as fire,And fit for any king! (_He quaffs great goblets of wine._) Now at the window will I stand,While in the street the armed bandThe little children slay:The babe just born in BethlehemWill surely slaughtered be with them,Nor live another day! (_Here a voice of lamentation shall be heard in the street._) _Rachel._ O wicked king! O cruel speed!To do this most unrighteous deed!My children all are slain! _Herod._ Ho seneschal! another cup!With wine of Sorek fill it up!I would a bumper drain! _Rahab._ May maledictions fall and blastThyself and lineage, to the lastOf all thy kith and kin! _Herod._ Another goblet! quick! and stirPomegranate juice and drops of myrrhAnd calamus therein! _Soldiers (in the street)_. Give up thy child into our hands!It is King Herod who commandsThat he should thus be slain! _The Nurse Medusa._ O monstrous men! What have ye done!It is King Herod's only sonThat ye have cleft in twain! _Herod._ Ah, luckless day! What words of fearAre these that smite upon my earWith such a doleful sound!What torments rack my heart and head!Would I were dead! would I were dead,And buried in the ground! (_He falls down and writhes as though eaten by worms.Hell opens, and_ SATAN _and_ ASTAROTH _come forth,and drag him down._)
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